Kobe Bryant had a strong devotion to his family. His personal life or family life probably meant more to him than basketball.
1999: Bryant meets his future wife 👰🏽♀️
Bryant’s focus and first love were on improving his game in the league and gaining stardom there. However, it didn’t stop him from making a small detour into rap music. Bryant was on a video set in 1999 when he met Vanessa Laine, an extra and high school student who would become his wife two years later. His decision to marry young caused a temporary rift between him and his family.
2003: Becomes a father 👨👩👧👧
Bryant and his wife Vanessa welcomed their first child, a daughter named Natalia, on Jan. 19, 2003. They later added Gianna (“Gigi”), Bianka, and Capri to the family in 2006, 2016, and 2019, respectively. Natalia became a high school volleyball player while Gianna took after her father and played basketball.
2003: The birth of “Black Mamba” 🐍
Every Kobe fan knows his alter ego is “Black Mamba.” But, the moniker’s roots have a deep emotional and intellectual significance in Bryant’s life. He explains in “Kobe Bryant’s Muse” that in 2003 he was being heavily ridiculed by the crowd and felt like his life was spiraling out of control. So, he created the Black Mamba to detach from that reality.
2016: Bryant honored with his own day 8️⃣ x 2️⃣4️⃣
The City of Los Angeles declared Aug. 24, a combination of Bryant’s two jersey numbers, “Kobe Bryant Day,” in 2016 following his retirement. The commemoration, also known as “Mamba Day,” honors his legacy and profound impact on the game. The day falls one day after Bryant’s birthday.
2018: Founded the Mamba Sports Academy 🏪
In 2018, Bryant partnered with Chad Faulkner, the owner of a Southern California sports academy, to create Mamba Sports Academy. Bryant’s daughter Gianna played for the collective and he worked closely with its young players to help cultivate their talents. The academy later dropped Mamba from its name following Bryant’s death.
2020: Death at 41 💒
Kobe Bryant’s life was cut short in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26, 2020. The legendary basketball player died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people on board, including the pilot. The group was traveling to a basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy.
Statue of Kobe and Gigi Bryant placed at crash site in California.